Posted on 08/12/2004 2:58:46 AM PDT by anonymoussierra
US moves to crush Shia uprising
Fighting has intensified in the Iraqi holy city of Najaf as US marines vowed to defeat a week-long uprising by supporters of Shia cleric Moqtada Sadr. Tanks backed by helicopter gunships moved to seal off the Imam Ali Shrine in the centre of the city on Thursday.
US aircraft and artillery pounded a nearby cemetery where militiamen have taken up positions in recent days.
American forces also targeted militias in Kut, east of Najaf, where at least 72 people are reported killed.
US and Iraqi forces have been battling Mr Sadr's Mehdi militia in Najaf - about 160 km (100 miles) south of Baghdad - for the past seven days.
The latest clashes broke out at around 0700 (0300 GMT) on Thursday, as US forces headed towards the Valley of Peace cemetery.
"Major operations to destroy the militia have begun," a US military spokesman said.
American troops, using loudspeakers, have been warning residents to leave the area.
A correspondent for AFP news agency said all civilians appeared to have left central Najaf, which he described as a "ghost city".
The American military says the provincial governor has given permission for the raid on Najaf's Imam Ali mausoleum - which insurgents are using as a refuge, according to the US.
However, the US military said the shrine was not included in the "current clearing operations".
The mausoleum is one of the holiest sites in Shia Islam, marking the spot where the Prophet Muhammad's son-in-law, Ali, is buried.
Correspondents say the nature of the fighting suggests the US and Iraqi forces had mounted a pincer movement in Najaf.
Oil threat
In Kut, another Shia city 160 km (100 miles) east of Najaf, US planes targeted the Mehdi militia overnight.
Officials in Kut said at least 72 people had been killed in the past 24 hours, but there has been no independent confirmation of this.
Most of the victims died during the US air raid, according to the local officials.
The city was the scene of clashes between Iraqi security forces and insurgents on Wednesday.
Mr Sadr's militia has threatened to retaliate to US operations in Najaf by blowing up oil pipelines in southern Iraq.
Mr Sadr has called on his followers to keep fighting, even if he himself is captured or killed.
Elsewhere, two US marines were reported killed in a helicopter crash in Anbar province west of Baghdad.
Three other people were injured in Wednesday night's crash, which occurred during what the US military described as "security and stabilisation operations".
No hostile fire was observed near the helicopter at the time of the crash, they said.
We're just going to have to kill as many of them as it takes to stop them from killing us.
It worked with Germany and Japan. It's a shame but they started this fight.
We will end it.
More accurately, we've been keeping them in place for a week... When we fight we destroy the enemy.
"We're just going to have to kill as many of them as it takes to stop them from killing us.
It worked with Germany and Japan. It's a shame but they started this fight.
We will end it.!" That is good, strong, strong, no talk, enough talk! Thank you America.
"When we fight we destroy the enemy." YES!
These Islamowackjobs need to be bled until we get in touch ith their humanity.
If that is not a possibility, they just need to keep dying.
"...thousands presumed dead."
fight is strong, that is good. America soldiers doing good.
"They should play loud noises, insults and confusing messages from local people just outside of that building for weeks. They should pump various sweet and ugly odors, then CS gas (tear gas) into it. If Sadr doesn't come out by then, repeat the above process until he does." That is good word, that is good. :}}
Kerry wouild say: "In deference to the ancient cultures of the native peoples and their holy temples in the holy city of Najaf where the faithful followers of the Religion of Peace gather to worship Allah, I have ordered the marines to contain, but not attack the temple."
In the meantime, terrorists shoot our guys and then run back into the temple and yell, "Nanny nanny poo poo, you can't get me", a la Vietnam.
remember when they captured Noriega, they were playing "Welcome To The Jungle" Guns & Roses from the attack helicopters that were surrounding his complex. they played that music for a couple days if memory serves me correctly, i believe George H.W Bush was in office at the time...
"The mausoleum is one of the holiest sites in Shia Islam, marking the spot where the Prophet Muhammad's son-in-law, Ali, is buried."
Son-in-law??? Big whoop!!! It reminds me of a line from "Space Balls"...so whaty does that make him, absolutely nothing!
Good to see you here our polish freind!
is your husband home yet.
GODBLESS!
Less Americans die when they are fighting than when they are targets of sneak bombs planted by these terrorists. Now they need to cut off the head of the snake ,Sadr.
"Kerry wouild say: "In deference to the ancient cultures of the native peoples and their holy temples in the holy city of Najaf where the faithful followers of the Religion of Peace gather to worship Allah, I have ordered the marines to contain, but not attack the temple."
In the meantime, terrorists shoot our guys and then run back into the temple and yell, "Nanny nanny poo poo, you can't get me", a la Vietnam."
evil lie! Your country liberal party lie! He is stupid toilet. I do not like him!,he is not good! I like your president!, he is strong and good to America.
"Good to see you here our polish freind!
is your husband home yet.
GODBLESS!"
No :{{{{{{{{{{{{{{{
Thank you.
"Son-in-law??? Big whoop!!! It reminds me of a line from "Space Balls"...so whaty does that make him, absolutely nothing!"
You are good :}}}}}}}}}}}
fight is strong, America soldiers are strong! Enough of talk to evil persons.
Just consider these battles against Iran. Long overdue.
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